A New Kind of Army

Chapter 31: Dreams for You and Me

The words in front of me were small, and not in a language I was very confident in. The squiggled symbols that were painted black on worn ivory pages, was a confusing mess of ink at times. I would skim, trip up, and lose track of my place constantly. The modest chandelier above me had a single faulty light that would flick on and off. However, I didn't stop. The Barnes family was known for two things: stubbornness, and dying young. I already failed at the second one, I won't fail the first. Especially if my life depended on it. Which was what everyone was telling me these days.

I sighed; my head hurt. I just wanted to sleep, but Nico was a strict teacher. Even now I could feel him watching me from the other room, making sure I wasn't goofing off. Not like I was actually awake enough to have fun at the moment.

"Bucky?"

Well, I might be present enough for a conversation. I looked up seeing Arrow approaching me. I smiled. It was her first night home after she was injured on her last mission. I tried not to let my eyes stray towards the bandages that were still covering her shoulder and arm. The Docs had tried their best but once the wounds healed, she'd have permeant scars where the acid bullets struck her flesh. Not that she minded. Mutants cherished scars; they saw them as beautiful and marks of great strength.

Arrow had changed over the past few months. I hadn't really noticed as she had rarely stayed at home for more than a few days before going on another mission, and of course her stay in the hospital. Though now that she was standing in front of me. I could see the differences. Her hair had grown back to shoulder length, and was rebleached and recolored. This time stunning heather purple streaks stood out from her naturally dark chocolate locks. It had been tied up in a royal blue scarf that night, matching the mask she chose to wear that evening. She had pierced her nose at some point. A ring of gold with a tiny design of a butterfly in blue gemstones was hanging off the outside of her left nostril. It was different, but she was still gorgeous.

"Hey, Row," I said.

"What are you doing?"

"Just some studying. Your uncle is evil by the way."

She chuckled, "Don't let him hear you say that, you'll be doing burpees for a month."

I snorted, "I'll be doing what?"

"It's like a push-up had a baby with a jumping-jack and it's pissed off."

I laughed, "Well that sounds awful."

"They are," She sighed looking towards the floor.

"Something wrong?"

"Bucky? Why are you doing this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The trials? Don't think I don't know. You've become the main topic of gossip for the Phoenix Palace's maid staff."

"I have?" My eyebrows rose.

When Arrow had been released from the hospital early, it was an agreed she would finish her bedrest recovery in the Palace at the middle of Nexus. Christin believed she would heal better in their family wing (each clan leader had one to stay in for either emergencies, vacations, or just to live in. Though most had other homes). The phoenix palace, as it was apparently called, was fully staffed with guards, maid staff, and healers. So, if anything had happened Arrow would have been in good hands.

"Well, it's not every day a non-mutant, appeals to the Counseling for entry trials," Arrow stated bluntly.

"Ah, right," I said, nodding.